Structural member



Jan. 31, 1933. H. JUNKERS 1,895,557

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed March 1, 192 9 4 Sheets-$heet 1 lm ento/n' Jan. 31, 193s.v H. JUNKERS v 1,895,667

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed March 1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 31, 1933. JUNKERS I 1,895,667

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed March 1, 1329 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 /n vemor:

Jan. 31, 1933. H. JUNKERS 1,395,667

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed March 1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hfgt/S.

' 728 I 12/ 722 I r Awe/Man Patented Jan. '31, 1933 {UNITED STATES.

undo JUNKERS, or nsssau, Guam "STRUCTURAL MEMBER Application filed larch 1, 1929, Serial No. 843,828, and in Germany Inch 7, 1988- 3) plane of the wall and transversely to the corrugations and of being rigid'and desistive to forces directed normally to this plane only in the direction of the corrugations.

It is an object of my invention to provide a structural member avoiding these disadvantages and which allows obtaining greater rigidity and resistivit to stress without r quiring more materia The new structural member according to the present invention is formed of single or continuous sheet metal" stri s which are formed with channel-like shal ow grooves or arches. The single grooved or arched sheet metai strips are combined in the structural member in such manner that the concave surface of the grooves is disposed on the outside, the groove bottoms being caused by suitable tie members substantially extending within the structural member to apply themselves against abutments which extend within the structural member also. These tie members may for instance be constituted by tie bolts extending transversely to .the

grooves which cause the grooved strips to be compressed in lateral direction so that the grooved bottoms are forced inwards and apply themselves firmly against the inner abutments.

Preferably the structural member is formed of two such groove sheet metal strips,

the grooved bottoms of which face each other, these strips being spaced from each other and enclosing between them suitable tie members and abutments.

In the drawings ailixed to this specification and forming part thereof several modifications of a structural memberembodying my invention are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawings,

diagrammatic manner.

tween the sheet metal stripsare inserted brac- Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 14 are sections crossing the grooves, while Figs. 5, 8, 12 and 13 are sections taken in the longitudinal direction of the grooves.

Fig.9 is a perspective view of part of such structural member,

Fig. 10 being a similar viewof a detail. Fig. 15 is an elevation of a. door formed of :tructural members according to this invenlon Fig'. 16 is a cross section on theline 1616 in Fig. 15,

Fig. 17 is a partial view corresponding to Fi 16, but drawn to a. larger scale,

1g. 18 is a section drawn to a larger scale on line 1818 in Fig. 15, and

' Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a de-" I tail.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 1 and 2 are two sheet metal strips curved to form shallow grooves or channels, these strips being mounted .by means of their outer longitudinal edges and in spaced relation in two supports 3 and4 which are indicated in a purely Intermediate being and supporting members 5, 6, 7, which are held in place and are connected with the strips 1 and 2 by means of screws 9;

O viously if a force were acting 'on this member in the direction of the arrows 10, 10, the parts 1 and'2 would-ffhave the tendency of bending inwardly. They are, however, prevented from bending by the members 5, 6, 7 and are therefore particularly well protected against the action of bending forces. The screws 9 which connect'the members 1 and 2 with the bracing members 5, 6, 7 also counteract any tensional stresses acting in the direction counter to the arrows 10, 10. Instead of counteracting tensional forces by interconnecting the parts 1 and 2, the same effect can also be obtained by imparting to the sheet metal strips 1, 2 a certain preliminary tension which also facilitates the insertion of the longitudinal edges of these parts in the supports 3, 4.

Fig. 2 illustrates in Fig. 1 can be combined to form a continuthe lmanner in which structural members similar to the one shown ous wall. The abutments 8 inserted between the two parts 1 and 2 preferably extend across the entire width of the element. Main su ports 23, 24 are provided for holding t e longitudinal edges of the outer strips 1 and 2, while intermediate supports 25 and 26 serve to connect adjoining members. The sheet metal. strips 1, 2 are inserted between the supports with a certain pressure so that their curved inner! faces firmly abut against the spacin members 8, whereby a highly resistive Wat is provided.

As shown in Fig. 3 the sheet metal strips may be forced against the abutments already before being mounted in place. The sheet metal strips-1 and 2 are mounted under ten.- sion between end plates 33, 34 and intermediate plates 35, 36 and are placed under pressure in the direction of t e wall surface bymeans of the tie rods ,38 acting on the end lates 33, 34. The parts 1 and 2 are thus orced against the abutment members 5, 6, 7

and are thereby imparted the required rigidity. Obviously only two such strips 1 and 2 can be combined in this manner with two end plates and corresponding abutments, the whole being held in position by means of tie rods.

Larger structural members can easily be obtained if, instead of a plurality of consecu tive sheet metal strips, continuousplates 31,

32 are combined as shown'for instance in Fig'.

- surface.

4. Here the projecting intermediate edges 44, 45 are connected with each other by means of tie rods 46 and the end lates 33, 34 are forced against each other y means of tie rods 38 extending in the direction of the wall Between the metal plates 31, 32 are arran d abutments 47 extending over the entire wi th of the wall, a plurality of such abutments being provided in spaced relation.

As shown in Fig.6, the sheet-metal members may be placed under preliminary tension also by means of forces acting at right angles to the wall surface. Here metal plates -51, 52 formed with a plurality of shallow ooves and separated by an abutment 57 are eld at their outer longitudinal edges against displacement in the direction of the wall surface and at right angles thereto. The projecting edges 54, 55 separating the grooves are acted-upon by tie members 56 extending across the plates and exerting pressure on the outer side thereof. These tie members cause the groove bottoms to be forced onto the sides of t e abutment. r

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the arched strips 61, 62 are formed separately and are forced against intermediate abutment members 67 by means of tie members '66, provided with flanges which act from the outside on the abutting edges of the sheet metal strips, which are bent hookwise so as to obtain a spring action which causes all parts of the strips to be uniformly forced against the abutments. Clamp-like channel strips 69 embracing the bent edges of adjoining sheet metal members serve to connect these members with each other. The wall thus formed is highly resistive without requiring the use of any connecting members, such as rivets, screws or the like for connecting the outer sheetz metal plates 61, 62 with the mner parts 66 6 la similar construction is illustrated in Fig. 9, however, here the longitudinal edges of the sheet metal strips 1, 2 are not bent but merely project into the inwardly bent side portions of the channel strips 13, 14. Tie members 15 formed with bent longitudinal edges project from within into these channel members 13, 14. Longitudinally acting tie rods 16 serve to hold the strips 1, 2 applied against the channel members 13, 14, several suchtierods 16 being superposed in spaced relation and acting on U-shaped sheet metal members 17, which project into slots 18 formed in the channel members 13, 14'. The

tie rod 16 is secured into the nut 19 held by the member 17 and thus laces the whole structure under tension. he sheet metal plates 1, 2 are thereby forced against the inner abutments 20, which are superposed in spaced relation and are held in position by means of hook-sha d tongues 21 projecting into slots 22 provi ed in the tie members-15. Side walls 30 may be provided to cover the gap between adjoinng channel members 13, 14' at one end of the structure. In order to prevent loss of heat b vection from the inner to the outer sur ace of the walls of buildings and the like, the transversal tie members and, if desired, also the abutments such as 20, may be made of heat insulating material. Thus, as shown in Fig. 10, only the parts 15a of the tranversal tie members may be made of metal, while the intermediate parts 156 are made of heat insulatin material possessing sufficient mechanica strength, such as fibre or the like.

Boards may be provided as abutments, as shown for instance in Figs. 11 and 12 where the grooved sheet metal plates 91, 92 are apconplied against an abutment 93 which may be .which extend transversely to the grooves of the sheet metal plates 91, 92. Rivets 107 are here provided for fixing the plates to the corrugated abutment member 103, ledges 94, 95 being interposed between the parts.

As shown in Fig. 14 the principle underlying this invention may also be applied to the construction of curved walls. The annular Wall here shown is composed of an inner and an outer sheet metal wall 111, 112, the inner wall being formed of plane sheet metal plates on the ad oining marginal portions of WhlCh are mounted tie members 116 provided at their outer ends with flanges 118 which serve to hold the grooved plates constituting the outer wall firmly applied against the abutments 117 serving at the same time for spacing the outer from the inner, walls.

As shown in Figs. 15-19 structural members of the kind here described may also be employed in the construction of metal doors and the like which offer the advantage that although the sheet metal may be very thin, a very stiff and ri id door bod is obtained, because the arche sheet meta walls, being braced by means of suitable inner abutments, are not liable to be deformed after the manner of plane walls so that theywill take up comparatively great pressure and bending stresses. Owing to this favourable utilization of the material doors constructed in accordance with this invention weigh very lit- 'tle and can easily be moved, the means for mounting same in place, such as hinges and the like, being placed under com aratively light strain. As compared wit singlewalled doors made of pressed or braced plane sheet metal or of corrugated sheet metal, doors constructed in accordance with this invention offer the further advantage of being double-walled and therefore possessing better insulating properties both against sound and heat, this insulation being still further improved if the space separating the sheet metal walls is filled with suitable material.

The door shown in the drawings consists of two sheet metal plates 121, 122 arranged in spaced relation and formed with inwardly arched shallow channels, corresponding ridges being fixed by means of rivets or the like to vertically extending tubes 123. At the upper and lower ends the plates 121, 122 are formed into plane edge portions 125, 125, which are connected with each other by means of channels 126, 127. Tongues 128 formed by punching in the inner channel 127 are fixed to the tubes 123 (Fig. 18). Similar channels 129, 130 are mounted on and embrace the longitudinal edge portions of the sheet metal plates 121, 122 (Fig. 17). These latter bracing members carry the hinges 132, 138 and the lock 134.

The outer sheet metal walls are braced against each other by means of a plurality of superposed horizontal abutment members 135 (Fig. 19), the ends of which are fixed to the inner channels 130 (Fig. 17) and therefore also act as longitudinal tie members. At the points. where the abutment members 135 cross the tubes 123, they are formed with holes 136 (Fig. 19) embracing the tubes. The

edge portions of these members 137, 138 are I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the claims atfixed to this specification no selection of any particular modificationof the invention is intended to the exclusion of other modifications thereof and the right to subsequently make claim to any modification not covered by these claims is expressly reserved.

I claim 1. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment between said plates and means extending between said plates for holding same applied against said abutment.

2. Structural member comprising a plurality of juxtaposed sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment between said plates and means for holding said plates applied against said abutment.

3. Structural member comprising a. plurality of juxtaposed sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment between said plates and means projecting between adjoining edges of said plates for holding said plates applied against said abutment.

4. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment adjoining the convex parts of said plates and means extending in parallel to the plane separating a plate and said abutment for holding said plate applied against said abutment.

' 5. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment adjoining the convex parts of said plates and a transversal tie member for holding said plate applied against said abutment.

. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii-and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment adjoining the convex parts of said plates and a longitudinal and atransversal tie member for holding said plate applied against said abutment.

7. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, a channel strip covering adjoining longitudinal edges of said plates, a transversal tie member extending between said adjoining edges and into said channel strips and an abutment extending to the rear of said plates and held applied against the convex parts of said plates by said tie members.

8. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, a channel strip covering adjoining longitudinal edges of said plates,'a transversal tie member extending between said adjoining edges and into said channel strips and an abutment extending between said plates and held applied against their convex parts by said tie members, outwardly extending flanges on said channel strip adjoining the rear sides of the marginalportions of said plates.

9. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, a channel strip covering adjoining longitudinal edges of said plates,a transversal tie member extending between said adjoining edges and into said channel strips, an abutment extending between said plates and held applied against their convex parts by said tie members, lateral channel strips embracing the outer longitudinal edges of said plates and a longitudinal tie member extending in parallel with the plane separating said plates rom said abutment and having its ends con.- nected to said lateral channel strips.

10. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment adjoining the convex parts of said plates and arranged to prevent lateral dis lacement of the longitudi al edges of sai 'plates and means for holding said plates applied against said abutment. v

11. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces acing each other, a board-like member forming an abutment between said plates and adjoining the convex parts thereof, and means extending between said plates and engaging same outside their convex parts for holding same applied'a ainst said abutment.

-12. tructural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, corrugated sheet metal forming an abutment between said lates and adjoining the convex parts thereoi: and means extending between said plates and engaging same outside their convex parts for holding same applied against said abutment.

13. Structural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, corrugated sheet metal having its corrugations extendin transversely to the axis of curvature of sai plates forming an abutment adjoining the convex parts of said plates, and means engaging said plates outside their convex parts for holding same ap-' plied a ainst said abutment.

14. tructural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment between the convex parts of said plates, means engaging said plates outside their convex parts for holding same applied against said abutment and means for suspending said member for door-like rockin motion.

15. tructural member comprising two sheet metal plates bent to large radii and arranged with their convex faces facing each other, an abutment between the convex parts of said plates, means engaging said plates outside their convex parts for holding same applied against said abutment and bracing means extending between the outer longitudinal edges of said member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HUGO JUN KER-S. 

